The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-22
THE BELT-OLDHAM MURDERS
The Story of the Recent Midnight Assas-
sinations Near Caye-in-Rock, Ill.
4 Feud That Began Over the Eviction of a
Tenant. and Which Has Lasted for Eleven
Years with Murderous Results.
St Louis RehnhIican.


the affair, Colonel Squires said: ''The war of
determination is being waged fercely both
sides, and the county authorities are powerless
to arrest the bloodshed. The Belt family was
one of the most prominent in the county, and
had settled in Hardin county shortly after it was
surveyed Ten years ago Logan Belt owned a
large farm, and considered leader in his
section. He had served in the war and returned
with good record. His enmty dreaded,
for when his blood was up he did not know the
meaning of law fear.
about the same time the Oldhams lived in
North Hardin, q family quite reckless, but
not SO wealthy as the Belts. One night in 1876
there was party at the house of an Oldham,
and Logan Belt was among the guests. There
had been bad blood between Belt and Doc Old
ham account of a woman, a tenant of Belts,
whom he evicted. Oldham did not wait long to
open hostlities. but Belt appeared be-
gan to abuse him. Belt challenged him to fight
pair of ss-knuckles. Bounding forward Belt
caught Oldham by the shoulders and rushed him
towards the fire place with the intention of
throwing him in the flames. The men were sep
arated, but Oldham followed Belt, who backed to
the wall. where he drew his pistol and shot Old
ham dead This the beginning of the feud.
The neighbors divided in factions the
homicide. The Oldhams and their relations
were bent on revenge, while the Belts and their
friends planned to beat them. Belt was indicted
for murder. but was released on bail The feel
ing both sides grew very bitter Wheat
stacks and barns began to burn in mysterious
manner and witnesses on each side received or
ders to leave the county. One Of the most i'm
portant witnesses for the prosecution was Wash
Convert, and when be received a charge OF shot
that took off arm excitement reached high
pitch. This shooting was laid at the door OF the
Bolt faction.
'Whlle all this was going on the mysterious
murder of Luke Hambrink. peaceful
old farmer, occurred. Hambrink was
connected with the Oldham faction,
one of his daughters having married
h., fhnr Of ham
allies. He really preserving neutral posi-
ton, and lived alone with his wife He was
contemplating trip to Germany. aud collected
about s.. 800 1t was said that the Oldhams
demanded this money to prosecute Belt, but
Hambrink refused them. While returning home
one evening he was waylaid at his door and shot
through the heart. The coroners jury failed to
clear up the mystery, and the feeling became
intense The Oldham faction went about in
squads, armed denouncing the murder and
threatening vengeance Six weeks after the
assassination thirty citizens met st Cave-ln-the-
Rock, and formed an organization to clear up
the mystery of the murder. The Old
prominent in the gathering were Logan
Belt, Jonathan Belt. Earl Sherwood and
and called themselves Sons of Liberty 1.-THE
oath was not strong enough to keep the tongues
of some of the men still. and In a few weeks 1t
rumored around the Cave-in- e-Rock Sec
ton that the Kuklux had organized and were
led by the Belt faction. The Oldhams claimed
that the murderers of Ham brink were in tho
could be traced to the same gang. One man.
believe. gave the secrets of the organization
no prosecution. Everybody in the least
identified with either faction walked
around armed. The whole section
ana a the Bate
named Frailey. arrested for the Convert
shooting, and ne asserted on trial that while out
hunting he fired upon and hit. He saw
Convert running away and shot him. Frailey
sent to the penitentiary for a short term
and the prosecution became convinced that Belt
was also implicated in the attempt on Converts
life. The against him for killing Doc Old
ham was pushed. The trial came off at Shaw
neetown. and Belt was sentenced to fifteen
years in the penitentiary. He served about
years and was pardoned last year by
the Governor. Shortly after Logan
Belt was sent up the courthouse
lawessness committed. When the news of the
pardon reached Hardin it created great deal of
excitement 1t was said, however, that there
and a changed man. When he returned he
found things had not gone right at homo during
his enforced absence. He got divorce from his
wife, and taking the younger children settled
down to make living for them. He married
again and this antagonized all his wife relations,
and it was said they joined hands with the Old
ham factions. Belt seemed to have truly
changed and Stunned his old associates and
joined the Baptist Church.
Last fail the grand-jury revised all the old
animosities and created a sensation by return
ing six indictments for the Hambrink murder:
The indicted were Logan Belt, James Belt, Earl
Sherwood, George Ratclif and henry and lobe
Ledbetter. The Led betters are brothers of Mrs.
Hambrink and are said to be remotely related to
Sheriff Led better and the prosecuting attorney.
John A. Ledbetter. One story was that
Hambrink shot by some members of his
own family and another was that the Belts
did it. The Led ideatFsa were were no, not
Bolt faction, and it was a mystery how
the grand jury came to indict them. The Led
betters had moved away to Kentucky, but came
haol nd hay Salv mn
is a lawyer in Elizabethtown, and was candi-
date for the Legislature 81 the time he was in
dcted. He married daughter of Hiram
Belt, brother of Logan's and was alleged to be
a member of the Kukux. All the accused ex-
cept Logan Belt gave bond, and the cases were
tried few months ago. The evidence of Sher-
wood and others showed that the first meeting OF
the Sons of Liberty was called for the purpose
of regulating the neighborhood.
"Crime had gone unpunished long enough,
and the idea to arrest the men suspected of
the Hambrnk murder and keep them apart ard
worm from them the secret Of the mysterious
crime. After it had been talked over for
eral hours two said they did not believe
they would go into it. They were then pledged
not to say anything about the meeting and
promised that they would not. They didn't keep
the promise, for in a short time warrants were is
sued against the Belts. Sherwood and others for
conspiracy. After the preliminary examination
Logan Bolt was committed without bond for the
Hambrink murder. The story that the or
ganiZation of the so-called Kukiux. the shooting
of Convert and the killing of Hambrink were
par "a a pAot ~ Iun o1 oIi sHo Witnesses
him in the Oldham case. The chief evil
dence against Logan Belt consisted of threats
alleged to have been made by him against Ham
brink. His divorced wife and har relatives ap-
peared against him. The Fraileys, who were
counted with the old Belt faction turned against
him also after his trouble with his wife One OF
the Fraiieys testified that Logan Belt asked MIN
to set fire to a school house. and he refused and
then referred to another job which he and his
friends were to do that night Belts Oldest
daughter who was discarded with the mother,
testified that the night of the murder Sherwood
Radcliffe. Jim Belt and her father left the house
together all heavily armed. She admitted that
she hated her father for his treatment of her
self and her mother Two of the most impor- |
tant witnesses for the State we're Mrs. Green. |
grass widow and Mrs. Lackey, a midwife Mrs.
Green testified that Logan Belt used to come
around to see her occasionally. and that during |
one of the visits he told her that Hamorlnk
would be killed next night Mrs. Lackey, who |
was friend of the first Mrs. Belt testified